What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
No Foreign Gifts Act of 2025 This bill prohibits an institution of higher education (IHE) from receiving federal education funds if the IHE receives gifts from certain countries. Specifically, the bill prohibits an IHE from receiving a gift from (1) China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran; or (2) a country that has provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization, as determined by the Department of State. The bill also requires an IHE, as a condition of eligibility for federal education funds, to report any offer of a gift from such a foreign country.
Action Timeline
2025-01-16
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
2025-01-16
Introduced in House
2025-01-16
Introduced in House
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.542 pass?
HR.542 is still alive. Current stage: COMMITTEE. Pass likelihood: 37%.
What does HR.542 do?
No Foreign Gifts Act of 2025 This bill prohibits an institution of higher education (IHE) from receiving federal education funds if the IHE receives gifts from certain countries. Specifically, the bill prohibits an IHE from receiving a gift from (1) China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran; or (2) a country that has provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization, as determined by the Department of State. The bill also requires an IHE, as a condition of eligibility for federal education funds, to report any offer of a gift from such a foreign country.
Who sponsored HR.542?
HR.542 was sponsored by Ritchie Torres (D-New York).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 542 IH: No Foreign Gifts Act of 2025 U.S. House of Representatives 2025-01-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 542 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 16, 2025 Mr. Torres of New York (for himself and Mr. Garbarino ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education from receiving gifts from certain countries, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the No Foreign Gifts Act of 2025 . 2. Prohibition on gifts from certain countries The Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after section 117 the following: 117A. Prohibition on gifts from certain countries (a) In general Beginning on the date of the enactment of this section, an institution of higher education that receives funds under this Act may not receive a gift from— (1) a country that, as of such date of enactment, has provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization, as determined by the Secretary of State; or (2) China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran. (b) Reporting In order to continue to be eligible to receive funds under this Act, an institution described in subsection (a) must, for each instance where such institution is offered a gift from a country described in such subsection, report such offer to the Secretary. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Material support The term material support has the meaning given the term material support and resources in section 2339A(b) of title 18, United States Code. (2) Foreign terrorist organization The term foreign terrorist organization means an entity designated by the Secretary of State under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1189 ). .
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